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The chapter demonstrates that there were close links between the scribes of some late medieval Welsh medico-astrological manuscripts and the professional poets, and examines astrological themes in late medieval Welsh poetry. It shows that the poets of the 1400s, especially those concerned with prophecy, consciously wove the astrological imagery of Geoffrey's Merlin into their professional personae. It is argued that a paradoxical movement in two opposing directions can be observed in the 15th century. On the one hand, elements of the Welsh intelligentsia became more and more interested in up-to-date astrology (largely through the art's connection with medicine) as the supply of colourful manuscripts and a number of learned poems suggests. (For example Ieuan ap Rhydderch's ‘Boasting Poem’ details his university training in astrology, probably at Oxford, early in the century.) On the other, prophetic poets were using the astrological associations of Geoffrey's Merlin to lend themselves and their skills an arcane, primeval aura. The chapter features an analysis of the longest medieval Welsh poem on an astrological theme, Dafydd Nanmor's ‘To God and the planet Saturn’.

This chapter discusses miscellanies of Welsh-language poetry, focusing on six 15th-century manuscripts from the National Library of Wales, Peniarth collection, MSS 51, 54, 55, 57, 60, and 67, all of which contain material deriving directly from contemporary poets. The formation of these miscellanies was influenced by two key aspects of Welsh bardic practice: the fact that poets and reciters were itinerant meant that numerous contributors could have access to any single manuscript collection on separate occasions, and the prevalence of memorial transmission meant that large quantities of poetry were potentially available for transcription, despite the paucity of written exemplars. Socio-political networks are evident in patrons’ miscellanies, whilst the two manuscripts belonging to poets (51 and 67) are shown to reflect the ideal of the learned bard represented by the legendary Taliesin.

Edward IV was faced by overriding responsibilities. All these obligations had their relevance for Wales. So pressing were the needs of Wales that it even looked at first as if Edward IV himself intended to take a hand in settling its affairs. The effects of initial Yorkist victories and of Edward’s wholesale redistribution of land and authority in Wales soon became apparent. The Yorkists were keen to create a favourable climate of public support for themselves in Wales by encouraging the composition of Welsh poetry. The most troublesome of Yorkists enemies was Jasper Tudor, a Lancastrian. Wales during the last years of Edward’s reign seems to have been much quieter. He did not live long enough to witness these.